Information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a host-base printing system, it is intended to execute a continuous page printing of continuous print jobs with a maximum printing speed specific to a printing engine in a printing apparatus, without a loss in the printing speed. There is provided a host computer system in which a data generation unit generates a print job based on a drawing command entered from an application software, and transfers the generated print job for example to a printer, characterized in that a plurality of print jobs generated in succession are spooled in a system spooling unit, and a print control unit combines plural print jobs entered from the system pooling unit and transfers them as a single print job for example to a printer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a job processing in aninformation processing apparatus for generating a print job based on adrawing command entered from an application software and such generatedprint job to a printing apparatus.

[0003] 2. Related Background Art

[0004] A prior printing system, for executing a printing operation byoutputting image drawing data from an upper apparatus to a printingapparatus utilizing a color or monochromatic electrophotographicprocess, has been constructed as shown in FIG. 13.

[0005]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a priorart network printing system.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 13, an upper apparatus (generally a hostcomputer) 301, 302 or 303 is provided with a mother board, connectedwith a hard disk, a RAM, a display, a keyboard, a data transfer I/F, anda network board or a network adaptor 307, 308 or 309 capable ofcontrolling a network protocol corresponding to a network 300. The hostcomputer system 301 is provided, in addition to the network adaptor 307,with a local port, which can be connected to a local printer by means ofa bi-directional I/F cable.

[0007] On the other hand, a main body 304, 305 or 306 of a printingapparatus of electrophotographic process is respectively provided with avideo controller 310, 311 or 312 and an engine controller 313, 314 or315, or a controller integrating a video controller and an enginecontroller.

[0008] If an application software functioning in the host computerserving as the upper apparatus is used to execute printing, for example,a document of 11 pages by designating plural copies (N copies) from theapplication software or from a user interface for print setting of theprinting system, a print job including drawing information of a page anda copy number N as one of print information associated therewith areentered from the application software to the printing system, which inresponse generates a print job containing N pages and transfers such jobto the connected printing apparatus as shown in FIG. 14A.

[0009] Also a certain application software in advance generates a printjob including N pages for entry into the printing system, whichtransfers it in the form of a print job including N pages as shown inFIG. 14A.

[0010]FIGS. 14A and 14B are a conceptual view showing an example of jobtransfer process in a prior network printing system as shown in FIG. 13.

[0011] In the aforementioned case shown in FIG. 14A, the printing can beexecuted with a maximum speed specific to a printing engine in theconnected printing apparatus, unless the drawing information of a pageis extremely large, namely unless a long time is required for generatingthe drawing information.

[0012] However, in a certain specified application software functioningon the upper apparatus, if a document of 1 page is printed bydesignating plural copies (N copies) from the application software orfrom a user interface for print setting of the printing system, theapplication software may generate N print jobs each containing drawinginformation of 1 page for entry into the printing system, as shown inFIG. 14B.

[0013] In such case, also the printing system transfers N print jobs insuccession to the connected printing apparatus.

[0014] Also in the printing apparatus utilizing the electrophotographicprocess, receiving the plural print jobs from the upper apparatus, theremay be generally executed a control of resetting the printing engine ata partition between-the jobs, for executing a toner fixing control(e.g., temperature increase/decrease control of a fixing device).

[0015] Therefore, in a continuous printing of plural pages (N pages), ithas not been possible to execute the printing at a maximum speedspecific to the printing engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is to resolve the aforementioned drawback,and an object of the present invention is to provide an informationprocessing apparatus capable of continuous page printing of continuousprint jobs with a maximum printing speed specific to a printing enginein a printing apparatus, without a loss in the printing speed, byspooling plural print jobs generated in succession, combining pluralprint jobs entered from a spooling unit and transferring them as asingle print job to the printing apparatus, without requiring any changein the control at the side of the printing apparatus in a host-basedprinting system, since, even in case plural print jobs are continuouslyentered from an application software to the printing apparatus, apredetermined reset process is not activated at each partition betweenthe print jobs.

[0017] In order to attain the above-mentioned object, the dataprocessing apparatus of the present invention has a followingconfiguration.

[0018] The present invention provides an information processingapparatus for generating a print job based on a drawing command enteredfrom an application software and transferring the generated print job toa printing apparatus, characterized in including spooling means capableof spooling a plurality of print jobs generated in succession (forexample corresponding to a system spool unit 522 shown in FIG. 3), andcontrol means capable of combining the plural print jobs entered fromthe spooling means and transferring them as a single print job to theprinting apparatus (for example corresponding to a print control unit523 shown in FIG. 3).

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description taken on conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of aprinting apparatus in which the present invention is applicable;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of animage output system in which a data processing apparatus and a printerof the present invention are applicable;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an imageoutput system of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a view showing a job configuration in the image outputsystem of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a view showing a data configuration of a print jobgenerated by a data generation unit in the image output system shown inFIG. 3;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a job processing state in aprint control unit of the image output system shown in FIG. 3;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of a first dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of a second dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention;

[0028]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of a third dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention;

[0029]FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of a fourth dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention;

[0030]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a fifth dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention;

[0031]FIG. 12 is a view showing a memory map of a memory medium forstoring various data processing programs readable with the informationprocessing apparatus of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a priornetwork printing system; and

[0033]FIGS. 14A and 14B are a conceptual view showing an example of ajob transfer process in the prior network printing system shown in FIG.13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

[0034]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of aprinting apparatus in which the present invention is applicable,corresponding for example to a laser beam printer of electrophotographicprocess. This embodiment shows an example of a monochromatic printingapparatus, but the present invention can be realized in monochromatic orcolor. In the following, configuration and function of the embodimentwill be explained.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, a main body 100 of the laser beam printer isconnected to an external apparatus, such as a host computer system,constituting an upper apparatus, and executes a printing based on aprint job transferred from such host computer and including a controlcode and drawing data such as a character code, graphic data or bit mapdata.

[0036] An operation panel 101 is provided with operation switches(keys), an LED display device and an LCD display device and is used forsetting an environment of the printing apparatus, but is notindispensable in the main body 100 since such environment setting isrecently executed often in the external apparatus such as the hostcomputer system.

[0037] A video controller 102 controls the entire laser beam printer100, analyses a print job including drawing data transferred from thehost computer constituting the upper apparatus, and develops the drawingdata into bit map data in a memory. It also instructs a temperatureelevating process to an unrepresented print engine controller as apreparation for a printing operation, based on a job start commandcontained in the print job, or instructs a resetting process of theprint engine in response to a detection of a job start command or a jobend command contained in the print job. The page bit map data developedin the memory are outputted to the print engine controller.

[0038] The print engine controller converts the entered page bit mapdata into a video signal and outputs it to a laser driver 103. The laserdriver 103 is a circuit for driving a semiconductor laser 104 andexecutes on/off switching of a laser light 105 emitted from thesemiconductor laser 104 according to the entered video signal.

[0039] The laser light 105 is deflected in a lateral direction by arotary polygon mirror 106 to scan a surface of an electrostatic drum107. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to a drawnpattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 107. This latent image isdeveloped by a developing unit 108 positioned around the electrostaticdrum 107, and is transferred onto a recording sheet through a fixingdevice 112. In the course of a continuous printing of plural pages, incase, after the completion of printing of drawing data of a page,drawing data of a next page are not inputted within a predetermined time(time enabling a continuous printing, hereinafter called a safety time),the print engine controller starts a resetting of the print engine orautomatically enters a temperature decreasing process for protecting thefixing device 112 and starts a temperature elevating process when thedata for a next page are inputted, regardless of the instruction fromthe video controller 102.

[0040] A cut sheet is used as the recording paper for the image transferthrough the fixing device 112. Such cut-sheet recording paper iscontained in a sheet cassette 109 mounted in the main body 100 of thelaser beam printer, fed into the apparatus by a feed roller 110 andconveying rollers 111, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 107.

[0041]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of animage output system in which a data processing apparatus and a printerof the present invention are applicable. This image output system(printing system) corresponds to a configuration in which a hostcomputer 250 constituting an upper apparatus and a printing apparatus(printer) 260 utilizing an electrophotographic process are connectedthrough a bi-directional interface 270.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, the host computer 250 is provided with acontrol unit 251 for controlling a main body of the host computer. Thecontrol unit 251 is constituted of a CPU 1, a RAM 2, a ROM 3, a timer 4,a keyboard controller (KBC) 5, a display controller (DSPC) 6, a diskcontroller (DKC) 7 and an I/O controller (IOC) 8.

[0043] The CPU 1 executes a boot program or an application stored in theROM 3 or in an external memory 12, and comprehensively controls theaforementioned devices connected to a system bus 9.

[0044] The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and a work area of the CPU1. The keyboard controller 5 controls key inputs from a keyboard 10 andfrom an unrepresented pointing device. The display controller 6 controlsa display on a CRT display, a liquid crystal display 11 etc. The diskcontroller 7 controls access to the external memory 12 such as a harddisk (HDD), a flexible disk (FDD), a flash PROM etc., capable of storinga boot program, various application programs, font data, user files etc.

[0045] The I/O controller 8 is connected to a printer 260 through apredetermined bi-directional interface 270 (hereinafter simply calledinterface) to execute a communication control with the printer 260.

[0046] The I/O controller 8 may be connected with the printer 260through a device incorporated in advance in a control unit 251, or maybe connected with the printer 260 through a device optionally attachedto a bus slot (such as an ECP board, a USB2.0 board, an IEEE1394 board,a network board or a network adaptor), and executes the communicationcontrol according to each connection status.

[0047] On the other hand, the printing apparatus (printer) 260 isprovided with a printer control unit 261. The printer control unit 261has functions of controlling the entire main body of the printingapparatus, or, in case an unrepresented two-side unit is mounted,controlling the entire printer including such two-side unit, and also ofanalyzing image information supplied from the host computer 250, and isconstituted of a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, a NVRAM 24, a communicationcontrol unit 25, a printer I/F 26, a panel control unit 27 and a diskcontroller (DKC) 28.

[0048] The CPU 21 comprehensively controls access to the aforementioneddevices connected to a system bus 29 based for example on a controlprogram stored in the ROM 23 or an external memory 32, and outputs anengine controller controlling command and an image signal, as outputinformation, to an engine controller 30 connected through the printerI/F 26.

[0049] The ROM 23 stores a program which serves, through a panel controlunit 27 having a device driver for controlling a switch, an LED displayunit, an LCD message display device etc. provided on an operation panel31, to control turn-on/off or flashing of the LED, and a display or achange of a message character train on the LCD.

[0050] Also the CPU 21 is rendered capable of communication with thehost computer 250 through a communication control unit 25, wherebyinformation in the printing apparatus 260 can be informed to the hostcomputer 250. The RAM 22 functions as a main memory and a work area ofthe CPU 21, and is rendered expandable in the memory capacity by anoptional RAM to be connected to an expansion port (not shown). The NVRAM24 is used for storing environment data etc. of the printer.

[0051] The printer of the present invention may also be so constructedas to achieve a cost reduction, as in a recent host-base printer (inwhich analysis of characters, drawing code etc. and control process aremostly executed in a host computer), by dispensing with the externalmemory 32 or the operation panel 31, or by employing a combination of aCPU 21 of a medium functionality level and an ASIC.

[0052] Furthermore, the communication control unit 25 is not limited toa Centronics I/F but the present invention can naturally employ USB,IEEE1394 or other configurations capable of controlling various networkprotocols.

[0053]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the imageoutput system of the present invention, corresponding to a case wherehost computer system (host computers) 501-503 serving as an upperapparatus is rendered communicable with printers 504-506 through anetwork 500, and a printer 504 can be locally connected to a hostcomputer system 501 through a predetermined interface.

[0054] If a printing process is executed in the present embodiment,following processes are executed by a program of the printing system,installed and stored from a memory medium such as a CD-ROM to a memoryarea (RAM 2 or external memory 12 shown in FIG. 2) of the host computersystems 501, 502 or the host computer system 503 constituting the upperapparatus.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 3, in case the user executes a printing in thehost computer systems 501-503 by application software 520, 530 or 540,the user at first gives an instruction for printing from the applicationsoftware 520, 530 or 540 or from an unrepresented user interfaceprovided in the printing system.

[0056] Then, in response to such printing instruction, the applicationsoftware 520, 530, 540 and an unrepresented drawing process unit, whichfunctions in cooperation therewith, generate a print job containingdrawing data based on print control information (device mode informationcorresponding to a document to be printed, to be commonly used by theapplication software and the printer driver at the printing operation,and including all information relating to the printing such asinformation on sheet size, printing direction, resolution etc.) andenter such print job to data generation unit (also called printer devicedriver) 521, 531 or 541 of the printing system software.

[0057] The data generation unit 521, 531, 541, having received the printjob, converts it into a print job interpretable by the connectedprinting apparatus, and enters such print job (wherein a print jobcontains data of 1 or plural pages, and in each print job, a job startidentifying information 601 and a job end identifying information 602are usually attached respectively at the start and at the end of drawinginformation of 1 or plural pages) in the order of pages to a systemspooling unit 522, 532 or 542 incorporated in an operating system (OS)provided in the host computer system constituting the upper apparatus.

[0058] In case of executing the spooling process under a networkenvironment (in the environment of connection by the network 500), thesystem spooling units 522, 532 or 542 may be the system spooling units522, 532, 542 of the host computer system same as that of the datageneration units 521, 531, 541 in the printing system, or may cooperatewith the system spooling unit in another host computer system serving asa print server whereby the system spooling units of both host computersystem may be utilized.

[0059] In the host computer system 501, 502, 503, data output is madethrough the system spooling unit 522, 532, 542 to a destination to whicha network connection is established in advance for example by a name ofthe printing apparatus connected to the network 500, a network address,a name of the host computer serving as the print server or a port name.

[0060] A print control unit 523, 533 or 534 in the printing system ofthe present invention, installed in the upper apparatus, upon acquiringthe print job (also called spool data) spooled by the system spoolingunit 522, 532, 542, executes a control of the print job, a management ofthe printing apparatus connected to the network, or a connection ofcontinuously entered print jobs, based on the print control informationcontained in the print job constituting the spool data or in theaforementioned device mode information.

[0061] In the present invention, a connection of print jobs means not totransmit, to the printing apparatus 504, 505 or 506, informationrequesting an initialization (resetting process) to a print enginecontroller (engine controller unit) 513, 514 or 515 at the transmissionto the printing apparatus 504, 505 or 506 such as a job startidentifying information or a job end identifying information containedin the print job.

[0062] Also in the present invention, information requesting theinitialization (reset process) in the engine controller unit 513, 514 or515 is not limited to the job start identifying information and the jobend identifying information mentioned above, but can be any informationtransmitted from the upper apparatus and triggering an initialization.

[0063] Also the aforementioned print control unit 523, 533, 543 also hasa function as a print server for managing the user name or the computername of the spooled print job, and, after various controls for the printjob, can also transfer the print job to a printing apparatus of atransfer destination through the communication control unit 524, 534 or544, or can also control and manage a plurality of plural data fromdifferent host computers.

[0064] A display control unit 525, 535 or 545 also has means ofdisplaying the print job information as information to the user on adisplay (display 11 shown in FIG. 2) through an unrepresented printstatus window.

[0065] Data transfer from the print control unit 523, 533, 543 to theprinting apparatus 504, 505, 506 is executed through the communicationcontrol unit 524, 534, or 544 having for example a port control program.

[0066] The printing apparatus 504, 505 or 506 temporarily stores theprint job, received from the host computer system constituting the upperapparatus through the communication control unit 550, 560 or 570 on avideo controller 510, 511 or 512 (corresponding to the printer controlunit 261 shown in FIG. 2 or the printer control unit 102 shown in FIG.1), in the RAM 22 or the external memory 32 shown in FIG. 2, and, upondetecting a job start information or a job end information contained inthe received print job or a resetting information for the print enginecontroller by means of a print control program stored in the ROM 23, RAM22 or external memory 32 shown in FIG. 2 or by means of an ASIC,executes an initialization of the engine control unit 513, 514 or 515(corresponding to the engine controller 30 shown in FIG. 2) forcontrolling electrophotography-related processes such as charging,exposure, development, transfer, fixation, paper conveying etc. or atemperature increase/decrease process for the fixing device, and alsoexecutes a development of the page bit map data contained in the printjob as video data in the engine controller by data analysis unit 551,561, 571 and a data development unit 552, 562, 572.

[0067] Thus developed video data are transferred to the print enginecontroller and are printed on an actual recording medium under thecontrols of charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixation, paperconveying etc.

[0068] The print control program stored in the ROM 23, RAM 22 orexternal memory 32 shown in FIG. 2 has a function of informing the hostcomputer, through the communication control unit, of a statusinformation of the printing apparatus such as presence/absence of atwo-side unit in the printing apparatus, a jam information,presence/absence of completion of the printing and a door open state.

[0069]FIG. 5 shows a data structure of a print job generated by the datageneration unit 521, 531, 541 in the image output system shown in FIG.3. In the following there will be explained, with reference to FIG. 5,an example in which the host computer 501 cause the printing apparatus504 to print plural jobs, in the present embodiment of theabove-explained configuration.

[0070] Now, let us consider a case where the application software 520installed in the host computer 501 instructs a printing, utilizing auser interface dialog for executing the printing provided in theapplication (such dialog not being illustrated and having a form and setitems dependent on each application), whereby the drawing data areoutputted in succession to the data generation unit 521 of the printingsystem of the present invention thereby generating plural job data shownin FIG. 5.

[0071] In FIG. 5, 701 indicates first job data, and 702 indicates nextgenerated job data. These job data are constituted respectively of jobstart identifying information 701-1, 702-1 indicating a start of thejob, job end identifying information 701-2, 702-2 indicating an end ofthe job, drawing data 701-3, 702-3 of 1 or plural pages, and printattribute information 701-4, 702-4 for the drawing data, attached toeach page.

[0072] The print attribute information 701-4, 702-4 contains variousinformation necessary for the print control, and there is shown, as anexample, a case of including resolution information 701-4-a, 702-4-aindicating a print resolution such as 600 dpi/300 dpi, sheet sizeinformation 701-4-b, 702-4-b defining a sheet size such as A3/A4/letter,sheet fixation information 701-4-c, 702-4-c, for defining a toner fixingmode optimum for the type of paper such as board, thin paper or plainpaper, color information 701-4-d, 702-4-d indicating color/monochromaticetc.

[0073] Various attribute information contained in the print attributeinformation, though variable depending on the printing apparatus, aregenerated usually based on an application software, an unrepresenteddrawing process unit cooperating with the application software, and adevice mode information, generally called DEVMODE information in theWindows (registered trade mark) operating system of Microsoft, which canbe commonly used in the data generating unit (printer driver) of theprinting system, installed in the upper apparatus of the presentinvention and in the print control unit.

[0074] The aforementioned job data 701, 702 are outputted in successionto the system spooling unit 522 (spooling).

[0075]FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a job process state by theprint control units 523, 533, 543 in the image output system shown inFIG. 3.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 6, the print control unit 523 receives the jobdata in succession from the system spooling unit 522, and, uponacquiring the aforementioned first job data 701 (to be currentlyprinted), transfers the job start identifying information 701-1, theprint attribute information 701-4 of the drawing data, and the drawingdata 701-3 in succession to the printing apparatus 504 constituting theoutput destination through the communication control unit 524. However,upon detecting the job end identifying information 701-2, it does nottransfer such job end identifying information but discriminates whetherthere exists succeeding job data 702 to be printed next (for example byjudging whether the job identifying information 702-1 is detected). Incase the succeeding print job is present, it does not transfer the jobend identifying information 701-2 of the current job and the job startidentifying information 702-1 of the succeeding print job to theprinting apparatus but transfers in succession the print attributeinformation 702-4 of the drawing data of the succeeding job and thedrawing data 702-3.

[0077] The job end identifying information 702-2 is processed, in thesame manner as when the job end identifying information 701-2 of the job701 is detected, regarding the succeeding print job as the current printjob. In case a succeeding print job to be printed next cannot bedetected, the job end information 702-2 is transferred to the printingapparatus of the output destination through the communication controlunit 524.

[0078] In the printing apparatus 504 of the present invention, throughthe above-described process, the two jobs 701, 702 present in the hostcomputer are handled as a single job 703 as shown in FIG. 6, so thatthere is not executed a process usually inserted between the jobs,namely an initialization (resetting) process of the engine controllerincluding a temperature decreasing process for the fixing device of theengine at the completion of printing of a preceding job and atemperature increasing process for the fixing device of the engine atthe start of printing of a succeeding job, whereby a printing ofcontinuous pages can be executed with a maximum engine speed specific tothe printing engine, without interposing a waiting time between thepages.

[0079] In the following, a control flow in the print control unit 523will be explained with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 7.

[0080]FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of a first dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention, corresponding to a job processing procedure in theprint control unit 523, 533, 543. S900 to S904 indicate process steps.

[0081] According to a program of the print control unit 523 in theprinting system shown in FIG. 3, job data, including the printinformation spooled by the system spooling unit 522, are acquired insuccession (S900), and, until a job end identifying informationcontained in the first acquired current print job is detected in a stepS901, other print information is transferred in succession to theconnected output apparatus (printers 504-506 shown in FIG. 3) (S904).

[0082] When the step S901 detects the job end identifying information, astep S902 discriminates whether a succeeding print job to be printednext is present, and, if absent, the flow proceeds to a step S904 totransfer the current job end identifying information to the printingapparatus of the output desitnation, but, if the succeeding print job isjudged present, the current job end identifying information and the jobstart identifying information of the succeeding print job are discarded(S903) and a step S904 then transfer other print information to theprinting apparatus.

[0083] In the step S900, print data are acquired in succession from thesystem spooling unit 522, and, when the processing of the current printjob is completed, the step S901 continues the processing by handling thesucceeding print job as the current print job, as long as such print jobexists.

[0084] It is thus rendered possible, even in case jobs are transmittedby spooling in continuous manner, to execute the printing operationmaintaining a maximum print speed specific to the print enginecontroller.

Second Embodiment

[0085] In the first embodiment, within the print job, the job startidentifying information and the job end identifying information areconsidered as information triggering a resetting process of the printengine controller and are not transmitted to the output apparatus of thedestination but are discarded in the step S903 in FIG. 7. However thepresent invention is not particularly limited to the job startidentifying information and the job end identifying information, and, incase the information in the print job triggering the resetting processof the print engine controller is a job end identifying information,such job end identifying information may be discarded in the step S903,and, in case the print job includes an explicit reset instructinginformation for the print engine controller as attribute information,such reset instructing information may be discarded in the step S903.Such embodiment will be explained in the following.

[0086]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of a second dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention, corresponding to a job processing procedure in theprint control unit 523, 533, 543. S1000 to S1004 indicate process steps.

[0087] In the present embodiment, a step S1003 discards a resetinstructing information in a succeeding job instead of the step S903shown in FIG. 7. Other steps are same as those explained in theforegoing and will not, therefore, be explained further.

Third Embodiment

[0088] In the foregoing first and second embodiments, there has beenexplained a case where a current job and a succeeding job areunconditionally connected as a continuous job after the step S902 inFIG. 7 or after the step S1002 in FIG. 8, but there may also be adopteda configuration which discriminates, after the step S902 in FIG. 7 orafter the step S1002 in FIG. 8, whether a current job and a succeedingjob can be connected as a continuous job, and controls the transfer ofjobs based on the result of such discrimination. In the following therewill be explained such embodiment.

[0089]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an example of a third dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention, corresponding to a job processing procedure in theprint control unit 523, 533, 543. S1100 to S1105 indicate process steps.

[0090] In the third embodiment, after the step S902 in FIG. 7 or thestep S1002 in FIG. 8 in the first or second embodiment, in order tojudge whether the current job and the succeeding job can be actuallyconnected as a continuous job, namely in order to ensure that aresetting process for the print engine controller is not required in theoutput apparatus between the print processes of the jobs, a step S1103compares the device mode information respectively corresponding to thecurrent job and the succeeding job.

[0091] This step for comparing the device mode information is executedbetween the steps S902 and S903 in FIG. 7 or between the steps S1002 andS1003 in FIG. 8, and other processes are same as explained in theforegoing. Therefore, explanation will not be given to such otherprocesses and will be given only on the step S1103.

[0092] The step S1103 in FIG. 9, after a preceding step discriminateswhether a succeeding print job is present and in case such succeedingprint job is present, acquires device mode information corresponding tothe current print job and device mode information corresponding to thesucceeding print job and discriminates whether such device modeinformation mutually coincide. In case of coincidence, a next stepdiscards information triggering a resetting of the print enginecontroller in order to combine the jobs (S1104), but, in case ofnon-coincidence, the jobs are transmitted without such discarding to theoutput apparatus (S1105).

[0093] If the print attribute information group (701-4, 702-4 shown inFIG. 5) in the print job includes all the print information requiringthe initialization of the print engine controller, the step S1103 madebe so executed as to discriminate coincidence on all the print attributeinformation group in the current and succeeding print jobs or only onthe print information requiring the initialization of the print enginecontroller.

Fourth Embodiment

[0094] In the foregoing embodiment, in case print jobs each containingprint information of 1 page only (with 1 copy each) are present insuccession, the resetting process for the print engine controller isexecuted after every printing of one page, whereby the printing speed inthe continuous printing operation may be significantly lowered.Therefore, there may be adopted a configuration enabling the printingwith the maximum speed specific to the print controller only in suchsituation. Such embodiment will be explained in the following.

[0095]FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of a fourth dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention, corresponding to a job processing procedure in theprint control unit 523, 533, 543. S1200 to S1206 indicate process steps.In this flow, a process for discriminating whether the page is printedby 1 copy is inserted between the steps S1103 and S1104 shown in FIG. 9,and other processes are same as explained in the foregoing. Therefore,explanation will not be given to such other processes and will be givenonly on the step S1204.

[0096] The step S1204, after a preceding step discriminates whether thedevice mode information mutually coincide and in case of coincidence,discriminates whether a copy number information is 1 in the device modeinformation corresponding to the current print job or in the device modeinformation corresponding to the succeeding print job, and in case of 1copy, a next step discards information triggering a resetting of theprint engine controller in order to combine the jobs (S1205), but, incase of non-1 copy, the jobs are transmitted without such discarding tothe output apparatus (S1206).

[0097] A discrimination whether the copy number is 1 copy can also beachieved by judging a copy number information if such copy numberinformation is included in the print attribute information group (701-4,702-4 in FIG. 5) in the print job.

[0098] The flow in such case can be obtained by merely replacing thecopy number information, checked in the step S1204, by the printattribution information in the print job, and such flow will not beexplained further.

Fifth Embodiment

[0099] In the foregoing embodiment, there has been explained a case ofprocessing a print job in which the print information is constituted ofplural pages, but certain print jobs contain the print information ofonly one page. Therefore, there may be adopted a configuration ofcombining the print jobs and transferring the combined job only for anapplication software which inputs the print jobs, containing the printinformation of 1 page only (with 1 copy), in succession to the datageneration unit (printer driver) of the printing system. Such embodimentwill be explained in the following.

[0100]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a fifth dataprocessing procedure in the information processing apparatus of thepresent invention, corresponding to a job processing procedure in theprint control unit 523, 533, 543. S1300 to S1307 indicate process steps.In this flow, a process for discriminating a specified application isinserted between the steps S1202 and S1203 shown in FIG. 10, and otherprocesses are same as explained in the foregoing. Therefore, explanationwill not be given to such other processes and will be given only on thestep S1303.

[0101] The step S1303, after a preceding step discriminates whether asucceeding print job is present and in case of presence, identifies anapplication name used in generating the current print job and thesucceeding print job and discriminates whether it coincides with anapplication name specified in advance as requiring the job combination,and in case of coincidence, the flow next proceeds to a step S1304 fordiscriminating the coincidence of the device information, but, in caseof non-coincidence, the jobs are transmitted to the output apparatuswithout discarding the information triggering the resetting of the printengine controller (S1307).

[0102] A specific process of the application may be obtained for exampleby specifying an application software by the data generation unit(printer driver) and attaching an application specifying information tothe print attribute information group (701-4, 702-4 in FIG. 5) of theprint job, whereby the step S1303 may specify the application by theprint control unit, based on such application specifying information. Itis also possible to attach an application specifying information to thedevice mode information at the data generation and to execute adiscrimination by the step S1303.

Sixth Embodiment

[0103] The printer in which the present invention is applicable is notlimited to so-called single-function printing apparatus having a printerfunction only as shown in FIG. 2, but can also be a multi-functionequipment, for example having a copy function, a facsimile function, ascanner function etc.

[0104] In the following there will be explained a structure of a dataprocessing program readable with the information processing apparatus ofthe present invention, with reference to a memory map shown in FIG. 12.

[0105]FIG. 12 shows a memory map of a memory medium, storing variousdata processing programs readable with the information processingapparatus of the present invention.

[0106] Furthermore, though not shown, there may also be storedinformation for managing programs stored in the memory medium, such asversion information, a preparing persion etc., and information dependenton an OS etc. of the program reading side, such as an icon foridentifying the program, may also be stored.

[0107] In addition, data belonging to various programs are also managedby the directory mentioned above. Also there may be stored a program forinstalling various programs on a computer, and a thawing program in casethe program to be installed is compressed.

[0108] Functions of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 may beexecuted by a host computer, by an externally installed program. Thepresent invention is applicable also in a case where an informationgroup, including programs, is supplied to the output apparatus by amemory medium such as a CD-ROM, a flush memory or a FD, or from anexternal memory medium through a network.

[0109] The objects of the present invention can naturally be attainedalso in a case where a memory medium, storing program codes of asoftware realizing the functions of the aforementioned embodiments, issupplied to a system or an apparatus and a computer (or a CPU or an MPU)of such system or apparatus reads and executes the program codes storedin the memory medium.

[0110] In such case, the program codes themselves read from the memorymedium realize the novel functions of the present invention, and thememory medium storing the program codes constitutes the presentinvention.

[0111] The memory medium for supplying the program codes can be, forexample, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetoopticaldisk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM or anEEPROM.

[0112] The present invention includes not only a case where a computerexecutes the read program codes thereby realizing the functions of theaforementioned embodiments but also a case where an OS (operatingsystem) or the like functioning on the computer executes all the actualprocesses or a part thereof under the instructions of the program codes,thereby realizing the functions of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0113] The present invention further includes a case where program codesread from the memory medium are written in a memory provided in afunction expansion board inserted into the computer or a functionexpansion unit connected to the computer, and a CPU or the like providedon such function expansion board or function expansion unit executes allthe actual processes or a part thereof under the instructions of suchprogram codes thereby realizing the functions of the aforementionedembodiments.

[0114] The present invention is not limited to the aforementionedembodiments but is subject to various modifications (including organiccombinations of the embodiments) based on the spirit of the presentinvention, and such modifications are not excluded from the scope of thepresent invention.

[0115] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the presentinvention can be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific embodiment thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

[0116] According to the modes of execution and embodiments explained inthe foregoing, it is rendered possible to execute a continuous pageprinting of continuous print jobs with a maximum printing speed specificto a printing engine in a printing apparatus, without a loss in theprinting speed, without requiring any change in the control at the sideof the printing apparatus in a host-based printing system, since, evenin case plural print jobs are continuously entered from an applicationsoftware to the printing apparatus, a predetermined reset process is notactivated at each partition between the print jobs.

[0117] According to the present invention, as explained in theforegoing, in a host-base printing system, by spooling plural print jobsgenerated in succession, combining plural print jobs entered from aspooling unit and transferring them as a single print job to theprinting apparatus, there is obtained an effect of executing acontinuous page printing of continuous print jobs with a maximumprinting speed specific to a printing engine in a printing apparatus,without a loss in the printing speed, and without requiring any changein the control at the side of the printing apparatus in a host-basedprinting system, since, even in case plural print jobs are continuouslyentered from an application software to the printing apparatus, apredetermined reset process is not activated at each partition betweenthe print jobs.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus for generating a print job based on a drawing command entered from an application software and transferring the generated print job to a printing apparatus, comprising: spooling means capable of spooling a plurality of print jobs generated in succession; and control means capable of combining the plural print jobs entered from the spooling means and transferring them as a single print job to the printing apparatus.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: first discrimination means which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; and combining means which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination means identifies an all coinciding state.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said combining means combines the print jobs in case said first discrimination means identifies that the entered print job and the next print job have a print copy number of 1 page each (for example in a step S1204 in FIG. 10).
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: second discrimination means which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application; wherein said combining means combines the print jobs in case said second discrimination means identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: first discrimination means which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; second discrimination means which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; and combining means which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination means identifies an all coinciding state, or in case said second discrimination means identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises: first discrimination means which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; second discrimination means which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; and combining means which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination means identifies an all coinciding state, and in case said second discrimination means identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing apparatus includes an engine unit executing an electrophotographic process and executes a predetermined resetting process at every partition of print job transferred from said information processing apparatus.
 8. A job processing method for an information processing apparatus for generating a print job based on a drawing command entered from an application software and transferring the generated print job to a printing apparatus, the method comprising: a spooling step capable of spooling a plurality of print jobs generated in succession; and a control step capable of combining the plural print jobs entered from the spooling step and transferring them as a single print job to the printing apparatus.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said control step comprises: a first discrimination step which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; and a combining step which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination step identifies an all coinciding state.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said combining step combines the print jobs in case said first discrimination step identifies that the entered print job and the next print job have a print copy number of 1 page each.
 11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising: a second discrimination step which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; wherein said combining step combines the print jobs in case said second discrimination step identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said control step comprises: a first discrimination step which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; a second discrimination step which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; and a combining step which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination step identifies an all coinciding state, or in case said second discrimination step identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said control step comprises: a first discrimination step which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; a second discrimination step which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; and a combining step which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination step identifies an all coinciding state, and in case said second discrimination step identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the printing apparatus includes an engine unit executing an electrophotographic process and executes a predetermined resetting process at every partition of print job transferred from the information processing apparatus.
 15. A job processing program to be implemented in an information processing apparatus for generating a print job based on a drawing command entered from an application software and transferring the generated print job to a printing apparatus, the program comprising: a spooling step capable of spooling a plurality of print jobs generated in succession; and a control step capable of combining the plural print jobs entered from the spooling step and transferring them as a single print job to the printing apparatus.
 16. A program according to claim 15, wherein said control step comprises: a first discrimination step which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; and a combining step which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination step identifies an all coinciding state.
 17. A program according to claim 16, wherein said combining step combines the print jobs in case said first discrimination step identifies that the entered print job and the next print job have a print copy number of 1 page each.
 18. A program according to claim 15, further comprising: a second discrimination step which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; wherein said combining step combines the print jobs in case said second discrimination step identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 19. A program according to claim 15, wherein said control step comprises: a first discrimination step which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; a second discrimination step which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; and a combining step which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination step identifies an all coinciding state, or in case said second discrimination step identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 20. A program according to claim 15, wherein said control step comprises: a first discrimination step which discriminates a coincidence state of print control information of an entered print job and print control information of a next print job succeeding to said print job; a second discrimination step which discriminates whether an application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software; and a combining step which combines said print job and said next print job in case said first discrimination step identifies an all coinciding state, and in case said second discrimination step identifies that the application software having instructed the generation of the entered print job and the next print job succeeding to said print job is a specified application software.
 21. A program according to claim 15, wherein the printing apparatus includes an engine unit executing an electrophotographic process and executes a predetermined resetting process at every partition of print job transferred from the information processing apparatus. 